Squaring the Circle
PATTERN NOTES
Weave in loose ends as work progresses. Join with slip stitch as indicated unless otherwise stated. Do not join rounds unless otherwise stated; place stitch marker to mark rounds.
SPECIAL STITCHES
Single crochet join (sc join): Place slip knot (see illustration) on hook, insert hook in indicated st, yo and draw up a lp, yo, draw through both lps on hook.
Shell: (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in indicated st or sp. Joining shell: (3 dc, ch 1, sl st in adjacent ch-3 sp of previous shell, ch 1, 3 dc) in same sc.
PURSE MOTIF Make 84.
Center Circle Rnd 1 (RS): With embroidery floss, ch 4, join (see Pattern Notes) in first ch to form a ring, ch 1, 6 sc in ring, do not join (see Pattern Notes). (6 sc) Rnd 2: 2 sc in each sc around. (12 sc)
Rnd 3: [2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc] 6 times. (18 sc)
Rnd 4: [2 sc in next sc, sc in each of next 2 sc] 6 times, sl st in next st. Fasten off. Remove stitch marker. (24 sc)
FIRST CIRCLE TRIM
Rnd 5: Sc join (see Special Stitches) with ecru in any st, *sk next st,
shell (see Special Stitches) in next st, sk next st, sc in next st, ch 3, sk next st**, sc in next st, rep from * around, ending last rep at **, join in beg sc. Fasten off. (4 shells, 4 ch-3 sps, 8 sc)
Joining Motif on 1 Side Rnd 5: Sc join with ecru in any st, sk next st, joining shell (see Spe
cial Stitches) in next st, sk next st, Slip Knot #Slip4 Knot #4 sc in next st, ch 1, sl st in adjacent ch-3 sp, ch 1, sk next st, sc in next st, sk next st, joining shell in next st, [sk next sc, sc in next sc, ch 3, sk next st, sc in next st, sk next st, shell in next st] twice, sk next st, sc in next st, ch 3, sk next st, join in beg sc. Fasten off. Continue connecting Motifs to make a strip of 6 Motifs. For the next row, connect a Motif to bottom edge of first Motif of previous row. Joining Motif on 2 Sides When connecting next Motif of new row, make connections on 2 sides of this Motif, first on side of previous Motif of new row, then with bottom of Motif of previous row. When working sl st in 2 joined corners of previous row, make sl st in previous sl st join.
Rnd 5: Sc join with ecru in any st, sk next st, joining shell in next st, [sk next st, sc in next st, ch 1, sl st
in adjacent ch-3 sp, ch 1, sk next st, sc in next st, sk next st, joining shell in next st] twice, sk next sc, sc in next sc, ch 3, sk next st, sc in next st, sk next st, shell in next st, sk next st, sc in next st, ch 3, sk next st, join in beg sc. Fasten off. Continue connecting Motifs for a total of 7 rows of 6 Motifs for each Back and Front making each identical.
STRAP
Row 1: With ecru, ch 11, sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each rem ch across, turn. (10 sc) Row 2: Ch 1, sc in each sc across, turn. (10 sc) Rep row 2, when Strap measures 48 inches in length, at the end of last rep, do not turn.
Row 3 (RS): Ch 1, working in side edge of rows, sc in each row across, turn.
Row 4 (WS): Ch 1, sc in each sc of row 3. Fasten off.
Row 5 (RS): Working on opposite long edge of Strap with RS facing, join ecru, ch 1, sc in same row as beg ch-1, sc in each row across, turn.
Row 6: Ch 1, sc in each sc of row 5, leaving a 10-inch length, fasten off. Thread embroidery needle with rem length, holding ends of Strap tog and working through both thicknesses whipstitch edges (see illustration) tog to form a large ring.
ASSEMBLY
Attach the Strap to the front and back of Motif pieces of purse with sc as follows: Pick up the back piece of purse and Strap with WS facing and Strap facing using care to position Strap seam at center bottom of purse. Working through both thicknesses, join ecru at top edge of purse, ch 1, sc down side edge across bottom and up opposite edge. Fasten off. Rep with front piece, using care that top edges and bottom corners of front line up with back. For sturdier bottom of purse, cut plastic canvas to fit inside bottom of purse and place inside.